When perfect becomes the problem: my journey from survival to rest

For a long time, I believed that if I followed the rules and excelled at everything, I'd finally be safe. I was the classic overachiever—an A-student who grew up thinking that being the "perfect girl" was the only way to be. This turned me into a people pleaser, constantly chasing control over every aspect of my life to manage an environment that didn't always feel secure.

I carried this high-demand mindset with me from Spain to Sweden, raising two boys without a "tribe" or traditional support system. I pushed through a demanding career in the tech industry for over six years, but along the way, I lost myself. My professional life no longer aligned with my values, and the energy I managed to gain was immediately drained by Monday morning.

I was surviving, but I wasn't living.

The myth of "pushing through"

We are often told that being able to "deal with it all" is a badge of honor. I certainly believed it. Even when I was already doing the "right" things—yoga, meditation, epsom salt baths, and healthy food—I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water. I thought I wasn't being strong enough and felt weak because I couldn't just keep pushing.

But the truth is, the idea that we can—or should—handle everything alone is not real.

Eventually, my body decided it had had enough. I hit rock bottom and went on sick leave due to acute stress and exhaustion syndrome. I arrived at a point where I was crying constantly, plagued by nightmares that I hadn't organized myself well enough or worked fast enough. My body spoke through chronic back pain and gut issues.

Rest is not a luxury

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn is that rest is a need, not a luxury. Only by stopping to listen can we move away from survival mode and into rest mode. It is in that space of stillness where your body can finally begin to heal.

The first step wasn't a new habit or a "hack." It was the bravery to ask for help and show my vulnerability. It was deciding to stop fighting against my body and start partnering with it instead.

I realized I wasn't broken; I was simply a human being whose body was functioning exactly as it should by signaling that enough was enough. This realization of self-compassion changed everything for me.

Choosing a different path

After four months on sick leave, I made a life-altering decision: I quit the job that was draining my humanity and decided to pursue the life I actually wanted. I chose to become a health coach because I wanted to help other women find their way out of that same exhaustion.

Today, Health Appétit is my way of sharing that "appetite for life" again. It's about a whole-life approach where we nourish ourselves not just with the food on our plates, but with the rhythms that allow us to feel alive and energized.

A note on your unique journey

While my path involved radical changes—like moving away from refined sugars and ultra-processed foods toward a diet of whole grains, greens, and healthy fats—it's important to remember that health is bio-individual. What nourished me might look different for you.

My transformation didn't happen overnight; it was a series of small, consistent changes. If you feel stuck in survival mode, know that it is possible to change your direction.

The life you want is on the other side of fear. And sometimes, the most courageous thing you can do is simply stop, listen, and ask for help.

If you're feeling ready to explore what a more compassionate, sustainable life looks like for you, I'm here to listen. We can look at those rhythms together and find the ones that let you breathe again.

You don't have to do it alone.